Method of making inserts for rubber valve stems



April 16, 1946. J. c. CROWLEY 2,393,693

. METHOD OF MAKING, INSERTS Fo'R RUBBER VALVE STEMS Original Filed Feb. 28, 1942 2 She ets$heet l 7M 5 m Y. we w A 1% 6 F April 16, 1946. 2,398,698

METHOD OF MAKING INSERTS FOR RUBBER'VALVE ST EMS J. C. CROWLEY Original Filed'Fe n 28, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. J/vh' C CEOWLEX M 7AM HTTae/S E: Y5

Patented Apr. 16, 1946 f 2,398,698 7: 5. METHOD 'OFZMAKING INSERTS Fort;

' RUBBER VALVE STEMS John C. Crowley, Cleveland Heights, as-

signor to The Bill Manufactm'in'g'Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Qhio Original application February 2s; 1 '942, Serial No. 432,863. Divided and thisapplication September 12, 1942, Serial No. 458,088

2 claims." (01. 29-1574),

This invention relates to a method of makin inserts for rubber valve stems. and is a division of my application Serial No. 432,863, filed February 28, 1942, An object of th invention. is to provide an improved method of manufacturing valve core retaining inserts for rubber valve stems. Another object is to provide an improved methd of manufacturing valve core retaining inserts for rubber valve stems and which. method enables the inserts to be formed of relatively thin gauge sheet material and yet be provided at their, outer ends with both external and internal screw threads.

A further object is to provide a method of man. ufacturing valve core retaining inserts for-rubber valve stems and which method enables the inserts to be efficiently and economically produced.

Further and additional objects and advantages not hereinbefore referred to will become apparent hereinafter during th following detaileddescription. Referring to the accompanying drawm s, y Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a valve core retaining insert made in accordance with the method of the invention and shows in section a rubber valve stem in which the insert is em bedded, andalso shows a removable valve core mounted in the insert and stem. I

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the blank from which th insert is constructed and 'shows the same after the first drawing operation has been performed on the blank.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrates the condition of the blank after a second drawing operation has been performed onthe blank.

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3 and illustrates the condition of the blank when the second drawing operation employed produces an elongated tubular portion on the blank of smaller diameter thanthe corresponding portion shown" in Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the blank to illustrate the condition of the same after the third operation has been performed thereon and whichthird operation is a forming one and'may be applied to either the blank shown in Fig.8 or that shownin Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 illustrates the condition of the blank shown in Fig. 5 after the fourth forming operation has been applied thereto.

Fig. 'I-is a sectional view throughthe insert after the legs or skirt thereof have been transversely arched and bent into substantially-cylindrical form. 1

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the finished insert and illustrates the insert after the external and interal screw threadshave been formed in the tubular end of the insert.

a Fig. 9is a view similar to Fig. "1 but shows a modified fol-m of insertproduced Joy the'rnethod of the present invention.

Figs; 10; to inclusive are views illustrating theconditionof the blank in the successive stages of v producing the insert therefrom and after the various drawing, forming'and screw threading operations have been applied thereto.

Referring to Fig. 1, the rubber valv stem shown therein'comprises a rubber base l6 and a rubber stern proper portion l'l integral with the baseg and extending outwardly from the center ofthebas e. Thevalve coreretaining insert made by themethod of the present invention is secured in the rubber stem by vulcanization and in the 'location-indicatedin Fig. 1. This insert is madefromsuitable'thin gauge sheet material, such as. thin gauge sheet steel, wherefore drawing and formingoperations can be employedinits manufacture; The finished insert has a tubular outer end Ill-which is internally threaded; as indicated at N. The tubular outer end of the insert at the extreme outer end thereof has a radially enlargedportion 20, the free end of which is provided with a radially inwardly directed flange 2|. ,lhe enlarged portion is exteriorly threaded, as indicated at 2 2. to enable a valve or dust cap to bescrewed'ontothe insert if desired. The inner periphery of the flange 2| defines an opehing-ofthe same diameter as the internally threaded bore of the insertand' is provided with screw threads 23' which constitute actually a continuation' of the internal threads l9.

- Asalready stated, the insert is made from thin aug sheet material and such material is not suflicientlythick to permit forming both internal and externalthreads therein at the same location. Consequently the provision on the insert of the-enlarged "portion ZIl'and the inwardly extend- I ing' flangezl overcomes this difiiculty and it is possiblefto' provide the external threads 22 for the valve cap *and at the same time to have the bore; in theouterend of the insertinternally threaded with-th threadsg23; The unthreaded offset connecting the enlarged portion 20 with the-remainder ofthe tubular portion of the insert provides the required metal'so that the external threads 22*and the internal threads l9 can overlap. The flange 2| provides the-required metal thickness forthe overlapping external threads 22} andthe internal threads 23. The tubular outer endfportion"l8 of the insert hasintegral legs 234' extending from its inner end. The legs 24 are arcuate or bowed in cross section from near their upper ends to'their lower ends and are separated by diametrically opposed longitudinally extending spaces 25'. fIhelegs 24* when: the insert is in itsffini'shed formconstitute what may be termed a substantially cylindrical-skirt or sleeve provided with elongated diametrically opposed slots formed by 'the spaces 25. Each of the legs 24 of the insert is provided near its lower end with a plurality of openings 26. i The insert in its finished form is molded in the rubber valve stem, preferably when the latter is molded and vulcanized to cure the same.v The Eli.

tubular outer end portion l8 of the insert'extends beyond the outer end of the stem properpor-' tion I! of the rubber valve stem, while the legs 24 that form the skirt or sleeve'of the' iniser't are embedded in the rubber valve stem and'extendalmost to the flat surface ofthe base-Hi of .the rubber valve stem and which base .contactsthe inner tube or other inflatable article to whichthe;

stem is attached in use.

The rubber of the valve stem is molded'efrtiie the skirt or sleeve of the insertlwith the tubular outer end portion thereof. The rubber valve stem, and particularly-the portion formed by the rubber.- material 28 withinthe skirt of the insert, is provided with a bore 29 therethrough and which borehas a reduced portion 30 and is provided near its inner end with an internal shoulder 3 I.

In Fig. 1 a conventional removable valvecore is shown mounted in operative position in the valve stem. This valve core comprises an externally threaded plug 32. which is swivellyconnected to a barrel 33 that has intermediate its ends and externally thereof a tapered gasket 34. The lower end of the barrel 33 constitutes a valve seat with which a valve 35 engages in air-sealing relationship. The valve 35 is fixed on the lower end of a valve pin 33 that extends through the barrel 33 and the plug 32 and is provided at its outer end with a head 3'ladapted to, be engaged by the pin of the ordinary air chuck to unseat the valve 35 when air is passing through the-valve stemand valve core. The valve core is operatively mounted in the valve stem by screwing the threaded plug 32 thereof into thetubular internally threaded outer end portion l8 of the:insert until the tapered external; gasket 34 on'the barrel 33 of the core is in air-sealing engagement with the reduced portion 30 of the bore 29 through the valve stem.. r t r 1 Inaccordance with the present invention the insert is formed from relatively thin gauge sheet material, such as sheet steel, principally by means of die stamping in the nature of drawing and forming operations A flat blankof the sheet material of suitable size is first stamped by suitable dies to draw a cylindrical relatively short cup lBa centrally of the blank and midway of its ends and from the open circumferential end of which extend in diametrical alignment flat legs 24a. The blank after the first operation thereon is illustrated in Fig. 2. v i v A second drawing operation is then performed on the blank by means of suitabledies toelongate the cup l8a and somewhat reduce itin diameter from its closed or bottom end inwardly to a portion 38 adjacent the legs 24a and which remains at the same diameter as the diameter of the short cup Illa drawn by the first operation. 7

Concurrently with the second drawing opera tion the closedbottom of the cup is cut out or removed. The second drawing operation may elongate the cup to? a diameter B to form an elongated. open ended tubulargp rti n .1 fibres. n:

dicated in Fig; 3, or the second operation may draw the cup into narrower elongated form with diameter C to provide an open ended elongated tubular portion I80, as indicated in Fig. 4.

.If-the second drawing operation has produced a tubular portion l8b with diameter B, as indicated in Fig. 3, then the third operation i a forming'operation by means of suitable dies to reduce the portion lBb adjacent to the enlarged portion 38 to' diameter C and thus provide an inner portion l8d of reduced diameter integrally connected'at;its outer end to an outer portion 1 56 of 'largerdiameter, namely the diameter B, as shown in Fig. 5.

llfthesecond drawing operation produced the tubularv portion I80 of C diameter, then the third and forming operation would, by means of suitable dies, expand the outer end lBeof the tubular portion to B diameter, also clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The fourth operation includes the piercing of the legs 24a'to provide the openings 26 therein, and further includes forming'by means of suitable dies the flange '2l on the portion. Hie, a indicated in Fig. 6, with the inner periphery of the flange 2| defining an opening having the diameter C. When the insert'has reached this point in its manufacture the legs 24a are flat and extend substantially perpendicularly from the tubular portion 'of' the blank'as indicated in Fig. 6.

The next operation presses by means of suitable dies the fiat legs 24a into arcuate shapein cross section and bends said'legsinto parallel relationship. to provide the finished legs 24 and which constitute the extended substantially circular elongated slotted skirt or sleeve of the finished insert and which skirt or sleeve forms an extension of the portion 38 of the; insert. The insert when it has reached this stage in its manufacture is as indicated in Fig. '7.

.Although the internal threads I9 and Mia, and the external threads 22 might be formed on the insert when it has reached that stage of its manuiacture indicated innFig. 6, the present disclosure, for purposes of illustration, indicates that the exterior and interior threads are formed on the tubular portion l8 subsequent to that stage of the manufacture of t le insert indicated in Fig.7. b

The external threads 22,.the, internal threads l9, and the threads liicl v on the inner periphery of the flange 2| areformed in the tubular. portion [8 of the insert by any suitable threadforming means, it being 'understoodthat the threads l9 and Illa may be formed in the same threading operation and by thesame threading tool. j

I As already explainedthe, sheet material is too thin to permit the formation of both internal and external threadsth'erein on opposite sides'of the same portionof the insert, but 'by providing the enlarged portion [8e and then. the inwardly extending flange 2| this difficulty is overcome and theinternal threads 19a and I9 andth'eflexternal threads 22 can be formed in the tubular portion of "the insert, with the threads"!!! overlapping-the external threads 22. I j

It will be understood that the method of making the insert by means of drawing and forming operations and from sheetmaterial, as.just explined ismore 'efiicient, more 'economical'an'd more readily accomplished than the manufacture of similar inserts from heavier gauge '=ma terial by-means of time consuming and expensive machiningoperatiom j g m {LT The valve core retainipgjns'ert shown in 'Fi'gs. 9. is: isindusived i e s from-the ins i n ious y described in that the outer tubular end portion 39 of the modified insert is longer than the corresponding portion l8 of the first described insert. The bore of the outer tubular portion 39 p of the insert is provided adjacent its inner end with a smooth tapered portion 40, while the internal threads 4! which correspond to the internal threads [9 of the first described insert extend a greater length in the bore of the modified form of insert.

When the modified form of insert is used the bore 29, through the rubber valve stem, does not have the reduced bore portion 30 of the first described form, since when the removable valve core is mounted in the rubber stem shown in Fig. 9 the tapered gasket 34 of the barrel 33 engages the tapered smooth bore portion 40 of the outer tubular end 39 of the insert in addition to enga ing the upper end of the rubber material of the stem located within the skirt of the insert.

The modified insert is provided with legs 42 corresponding to the legs 24 of the previously described form and which legs are separated with the longitudinally extending spaces 25 and'are provided adjacent their free ends with the plurality of openings 26. The modified insert is made in substantially the same way as the first de-, scribed form of insert, as clearly indicated in Figs. to inclusive.

The first drawing operation upon the blank produces the relatively short closed bottomed cup 39a, from which extends in diametrical alignment the legs or arms 42a, as shown in Fig. 10.

The second drawing operation on the blank produces the reduced diameter elongated open ended tubular portion 3% extending outwardly from the larger diameter portion 390 at the junction of the cup with the arms 42a. The second operation also removes the closed bottom of the cup.

The third operation is a forming operation which by means of suitable dies constricts the portion 39b to provide the tapered smooth bore portion 40 in the tubular outer-end of the insert.

The next and fourth operation (not specifically shown in the drawings) radially expands the outer end of the tubular portion 39b in a manner corresponding to the third operation on the first described form of insert as illustrated in Fig. 5, and forms the portion 39d.

The third and fourth operations on the modified form of insert may be performed simultaneously, if desired.

The fifth operation in the manufacture of the modified insert corresponds to the fourth operation on the first described form, as shown in Fig. 6, and embodies the formation of the inwardly extending flange 43 at the free end of the radially expanded portion 39d of the insert and the punching of the openings 26 in the arms 42a, see Fig. 13, and which flange 43 corresponds to the flange 2| of the first described form.

the threading operation to provide the external threads 22, the internal threads 4| and the threads 4|a on the periphery of the flange 43 as indicated in Fig. 15 and is the same as the corresponding operation on the first described form of insert.

Although the invention has been described as including a certain arrangement or order of manufacturing steps on the blanks in the production of the finished inserts, it will be understood that this order may be varied somewhat within the adjacent the said legs and a part of reduced diameter remote from said less, then by means of forming operations shaping said latter part to have the outer end of said part of greater diameter than the inner end thereof, then fianging the tip of said outer end of said latter part radially,

inwardly to define an opening substantially of the same diameter as the internal diameter of the inner end of said part, then arching said legs in a transverse direction and bending the same from the perpendicular relationship with said tubular portion into a position in longitudinal extension thereof and wherein they form a substantially circular skirt integral with said tubular portion, and then subjecting the inner periphery of said flange and th interior of said latter part to threading operations to provide correspondin screw threads thereon.

2. A method of manufacturing inserts for rubber valve stems which comprises forming a blank of relatively thin gauge sheet material by means of a drawing operation to have a centrally located cup from which diametrically aligned legs extend substantially perpendicularly thereto, then by means of drawing and stamping operations elongating said cup into an open ended tubular portion having a part of larger diameter adjacent the said legs and a part of reduced diameter remote from said legs, then by means of forming operations constricting said latter part adjacent to said first named part to provide a tapered portion on said latter part, then by means of forming operations radially expanding the outer end of said latter part, then flanging the tip of said expanded outer end of said latter part radially inwardly to define an opening substantially of the same diameter as the internal diameter of the part inwardly of its expanded outer end, then arching said legs in a transverse direction and bending the same from their perpendicular relationship with said tubular portion into a position in longitudinal extension thereof and wherein they form a substantially circular skirt integral with said tubular portion, and then subjecting the inner periphery of said flange and the interior of said latter part to threading operations to provide corresponding screw threads thereon.

JOHN C. CROWLEY. 

